AARP Hearing Center
Molly Barrie
AARP Virginia volunteer Molly Barrie has always been one to raise her hand whenever someone is needed to volunteer. “Giving back is such a good experience, my hand just goes up,” she says.
With AARP she serves as a volunteer screener and as a community ambassador.
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As a screener, she is often the first person a potential volunteer speaks with. Before that phone call, Barrie has done her homework. She looks over the person’s application and the needs of the community in hopes of making a connection. With that assessment, her hope is to help potential volunteers best determine their role with AARP. She will then connect the person with staff member.
“Every time I get on the phone for a screening, I am blown away by the people I talk with. I am so impressed by the quality of people,” she says. She notes that everyone has a story and it is her job to help match them to a role within the AARP organization.
Molly Barrie
Barrie likes that the person doing the screening is a volunteer. As a volunteer herself, she can tell the person what to expect and what her own experiences have been. She can be realistic with them while also sharing other possibilities, often pointing out opportunities that the person may not even be aware exist.
“It is fun to tell people about AARP and share the rewarding parts,” she says. “I am really interested in people so I find this so interesting.”
In addition to being a volunteer screener, Barrie also serves as a community ambassador in Northern Virginia. Doing outreach such as working in a kitchen or helping with international festivals lets her meet others and have a positive influence in her community. She likes that this gives her a chance to get out and enjoy events in her area.
Regardless of what role she is doing, Barrie loves supporting AARP. “I love their missions. They just get so much done.” She points out that it is a voice for older adults, not only now but in the future.
“I know AARP will promote what people need as they age,” says Barrie.
Following the Virginia General Assembly while in session and knowing AARP’s role, she has become more educated about some of the issues. Like many older adults, she is learning more about virtual currency, fraud, caregiving, and reforms for prescription drug costs. Barrie finds it uplifting to know people are working hard on these, and other, issues.
Being a volunteer is not new for Barrie. Having grown up in Michigan, she moved to Reston, Va., in 1985. “I love it here.” She worked in personnel for several commercial businesses before moving into the non-profit educational field, retiring about two years ago.
While working, she helped organize volunteer opportunities, ranging from food drives to working with the Chamber of Commerce to assisting with the Reston Runners. One of her most poignant volunteer opportunities happened just after Hurricane Katrina. Showing her love of dogs, she went to New Orleans for a week to care for displaced animals.
“One man had lost his family, but we rescued his dog. He had lost so much, but was so grateful his companion pup was safe.”
Barrie says she enjoys her volunteer work, especially for AARP. “I love AARP and being a champion for them.”
See how far your volunteering can take you at aarp.org/volunteer.
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